Last Wednesday, February 7th, was National Women and Girls in Sports Day. This is a celebration meant to inspire women and girls of all ages and backgrounds to realize their full potential and be active participants in sports.
The celebration is intended to support confidence and character development through physical activity, as well as showing females the strength they have to unlock their full potential in all aspects of their lives. Nearly a hundred young female athletes came out to participate in the clinic at Saint Joe.
After speaking with many members of our female sports community, many of them expressed their gratitude towards the women who came before them, and their ability to show them the way to excel in their chosen sport, as well as fighting for equality that wasn’t initially granted to female athletes. Many females also said that they view it as a way to set the way for women who are yet to come and be good role models for younger female athletes.
Many coaches also expressed their love for being able to facilitate confidence and life lessons to their female athletes. They also expressed their gratitude for the hard work their athletes put in to be the best versions of themselves and were grateful for the opportunity to be a role model for their athletes.
The history of National Women and Girls in Sports Day began with a volleyball player named Flo Hyman. She worked hard to advocate for equality in women’s sports. In 1987 President Ronald Reagan declared a national holiday to acknowledge the important role that women play in sports, and never forget where we started, but celebrate where we’re going.
